On-trail repair situations often call for unique repair jobs using unlikely tools. Whether it be a length of chain, a rock and a roll of duct tape, or even a chunk of a log to act as an expansion plug, the desire to get yourself and your vehicle home before dark (or by weeks' end) will help the mind come up with interesting ways to solve whatever problem is afoot.
I like to carry too many tools with me in my rig to help with such dire situations. While it may not be prudent for all trail rides I still find that being prepared tends to ward of the risk of breakage. Call it Murphy's Law if you will (which, by the way, I like to refer to as "Mexican Auto Insurance"), but bad things really do happen when you are least prepared for it.
Even if you don't carry too many tools on every trail ride, the Trail D-Vise from Mac's Custom Tie-Downs is one tool that should make your abbreviated kit. Anyone that has changed a U-joint on the trail can attest that while it's an easy job on the work bench in the garage, it's a royal pain in the a** when ill-equipped to do so. I've watched many a trail mechanic use a hammer against a semi-flat rock to bang out the old U-joint out of the yoke and then bang in a new one in place in the same manner. However, with the Trail D-Vise, you have a stout bench vise in the middle of nowhere. The Trail D-Vise opens a full 7 inches so it can easily handle U-joint changes as well as any other vise-required repairs. The Trail D-Vise can be used in any standard tow hitch receiver. Once in place and pinned it functions with all the versatility of your home bench vise. The Trail D-Vise can also be used at your home shop by mounting a short length of receiver tube below your shop work bench.
For more information, contact: Mac's Custom Tie-Downs, (800) 666-1586, www.macscustomtiedowns.com.